Rabbit Foot Fern

Rabbit Foot Fern

The Rabbit Foot Fern is an epiphyte (a plant that grows on other plants without having a parasitic effect). This allows the plant to grow up high in the canopy of Fiji’s forests.

The hairy looking structures at the base of the plant are rhizomes. The hairs allow the plant to take up water and nutrients while not having any true roots growing into the soil.

Look For

Sori: on underside of this plant’s leaves are clusters of sporangia appearing as circular brown spots. The spores inside the spores found in these structures are used in reproduction. Rhizomes: the furry looking structures at the base of the plant are rhizomes. The rhizomes are modified stems, in this case allowing support and storage of nutrients.